Moorside Edge - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

toshiba tony · 21st Nov 2018, 6:05 pm

There used to be 3 masts at the Moorside Edge site near Huddersfield, I lived at Slaithwaite. We were allowed out of school to watch it. I'm trying to work out the year, but struggling. Anyone

? Thanks.

Nuvistor · 21st Nov 2018, 6:32 pm

This post card claims to be from the 1940’s but I cannot confirm that.

toshiba tony · 21st Nov 2018, 8:44 pm

Hello Frank,
Can't claim to be so old. I was born in 57, was about 10 when it happened, but the photo is correct. Thanks.

Synchrodyne · 21st Nov 2018, 9:29 pm

Possibly this may be of some help:

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/reports/1970-21.pdf

Cheers,

Nymrod121 · 21st Nov 2018, 9:54 pm

That postcard shows the original 'T' antenna (?'Regional Service'?/'National Service'? *) that was supported between the two left-hand masts.

I think it's quite probable that the mast in the RHS-foreground was removed in the early '70s, along with the 'T' antenna - as implied in the BBC Research Department report (and many thanks to Synchrodyne at this point).

There were further mast/antenna adjustments done as part of the station replacement project carried out during 1983-1984. My recollections on the exact details are a bit hazy - sorry! - but here are my best efforts, by way of an annotated version of the picture which I hope is of interest.

Best wishes
Guy

(*BBC Engineering 1922-1972, E Pawley: p89)

dave walsh · 21st Nov 2018, 10:41 pm

It opened in 1931, the Wikki page says, Broadcasting on the North Regional Wavelength from May and the postcard says "North Regional" but that may fit with the Forties as well. The BBC document suggests modernisation in 1970. I wonder if you saw the first major upgrade at the age of ten Tony [1967 when R1 etc came into being] perhaps then altered three years later or maybe you were, in fact, older

If you were taken on a school outing it's was probably a significant enough event to have been in the local newspaper! To be 10 you would have to be at Junior School. Is that right? What did you see?

Dave W

toshiba tony · 21st Nov 2018, 11:56 pm

I'm sorry, I struggle nowadays, what I meant to say was what was the year they dropped one of the masts. They didn't dismantle it. It was dropped in seconds, my error, it made the Examiner, with pictures.

dave walsh · 22nd Nov 2018, 1:43 am

No apologies needed at all Tony. I'm trying to put that together with what Guy said about a mast being dropped in the seventies

. Are you still thinking you were 10? I'm very surprised that I didn't know anything at all about Moorside or that it was in such an ideal position for MW Broadcasting with it's extreme height and wet feet! It must have been so crucial, especially during the war. Perhaps the Examiner records will help but I'm not so confident, unfortunately!

The Bury Times went through as lot of changes [like most local papers] but I [naively] assumed they would have kept their extensive photo archive intact. Now when they want to do a "back to 1968" feature, all they can produce is a "dot to dot" grainy image, presumably from a library micro-fiche reel. I asked what had happened and "answer came there none". You'd think it would make a good story-really

Dave

21st Nov 2018, 6:05 pm	#1
toshiba tony Heptode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accrington, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 978	Moorside Edge There used to be 3 masts at the Moorside Edge site near Huddersfield, I lived at Slaithwaite. We were allowed out of school to watch it. I'm trying to work out the year, but struggling. Anyone? Thanks.

21st Nov 2018, 6:32 pm	#2
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Moorside Edge This post card claims to be from the 1940’s but I cannot confirm that. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Frank

21st Nov 2018, 8:44 pm	#3
toshiba tony Heptode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accrington, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 978	Re: Moorside Edge Hello Frank, Can't claim to be so old. I was born in 57, was about 10 when it happened, but the photo is correct. Thanks.

21st Nov 2018, 9:29 pm	#4
Synchrodyne Nonode Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Papamoa Beach, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand Posts: 2,944	Re: Moorside Edge Possibly this may be of some help: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/reports/1970-21.pdf Cheers,

21st Nov 2018, 9:54 pm	#5
Nymrod121 Nonode Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,052	Re: Moorside Edge That postcard shows the original 'T' antenna (?'Regional Service'?/'National Service'? ) that was supported between the two left-hand masts. I think it's quite probable that the mast in the RHS-foreground was removed in the early '70s, along with the 'T' antenna - as implied in the BBC Research Department report (and many thanks to Synchrodyne at this point). There were further mast/antenna adjustments done as part of the station replacement project carried out during 1983-1984. My recollections on the exact details are a bit hazy - sorry! - but here are my best efforts, by way of an annotated version of the picture which I hope is of interest. Best wishes Guy (BBC Engineering 1922-1972, E Pawley: p89) Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Nymrod121; 21st Nov 2018 at 10:17 pm. Reason: amendment re T antenna / add reference to 'Pawley'

21st Nov 2018, 10:41 pm	#6
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: Moorside Edge It opened in 1931, the Wikki page says, Broadcasting on the North Regional Wavelength from May and the postcard says "North Regional" but that may fit with the Forties as well. The BBC document suggests modernisation in 1970. I wonder if you saw the first major upgrade at the age of ten Tony [1967 when R1 etc came into being] perhaps then altered three years later or maybe you were, in fact, older If you were taken on a school outing it's was probably a significant enough event to have been in the local newspaper! To be 10 you would have to be at Junior School. Is that right? What did you see? Dave W Last edited by dave walsh; 21st Nov 2018 at 10:48 pm.

21st Nov 2018, 11:56 pm	#7
toshiba tony Heptode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accrington, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 978	Re: Moorside Edge I'm sorry, I struggle nowadays, what I meant to say was what was the year they dropped one of the masts. They didn't dismantle it. It was dropped in seconds, my error, it made the Examiner, with pictures.

22nd Nov 2018, 1:43 am	#8
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: Moorside Edge No apologies needed at all Tony. I'm trying to put that together with what Guy said about a mast being dropped in the seventies. Are you still thinking you were 10? I'm very surprised that I didn't know anything at all about Moorside or that it was in such an ideal position for MW Broadcasting with it's extreme height and wet feet! It must have been so crucial, especially during the war. Perhaps the Examiner records will help but I'm not so confident, unfortunately! The Bury Times went through as lot of changes [like most local papers] but I [naively] assumed they would have kept their extensive photo archive intact. Now when they want to do a "back to 1968" feature, all they can produce is a "dot to dot" grainy image, presumably from a library micro-fiche reel. I asked what had happened and "answer came there none". You'd think it would make a good story-really Dave